Tennessee Bills

HB 1333 requires Tennessee's Department of Safety to submit an annual report by February 1st to the governor and legislative leaders. The report must track how many people received increased penalties in court for violent crimes or weapon offenses when they were noncitizens, showing totals statewide and by county. This bill mandates data collection on existing sentencing practices but does not change penalty laws. It affects how the state monitors sentencing outcomes for noncitizens under current statutes. The bill focuses on transparency, not policy changes.

HB 1123 increases the threshold for medical bills presumed necessary and reasonable in civil lawsuits from $4,000 to $25,000 when itemized bills are attached to the complaint as exhibits. This directly affects plaintiffs in medical malpractice or injury cases who can now have higher medical costs automatically accepted as valid without additional proof. The key mechanism requires plaintiffs to submit itemized bills with their complaint, shifting the burden of proof to defendants for amounts exceeding $25,000. The bill amends specific Tennessee codes and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 1347 requires Tennessee's Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services to include the legislative librarian in its quarterly reports on accommodations in state hospitals and treatment facilities. The bill amends reporting requirements to add the legislative librarian as a recipient of these reports, which must detail delayed admissions and implementation impacts. This change directly affects the department (which must file the reports) and the legislative staff (who now receive these reports). The bill does not alter service delivery or funding but modifies the reporting structure for transparency.

HB 984 amends Tennessee law to extend the deadline for hospitals to submit health data reports from March 1 to April 1 each year. Specifically, it requires licensed hospitals to provide de-identified aggregate claims data on drug poisonings from prior-year discharges to the health department. This change affects all Tennessee hospitals reporting such data under existing health codes (Titles 33, 37, 44, 47, 49, 53, 63, and 68). The bill only modifies the submission timeline without altering the data requirements or scope.

HB 976 (Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Chapter 11) extends the notice period for spouses who do not sign home improvement contracts on jointly owned property. Specifically, it increases the time from 10 to 20 days for a non-contracting spouse to serve written notice of objection to the contractor after learning of the contract. This change directly affects married couples where one spouse signs a contract for property improvements while the other spouse owns the property (either jointly or solely), preventing the objecting spouse from being automatically deemed the agent of the contracting spouse. The bill amends existing law and takes effect July 1, 2025.

HB 991 would change Tennessee law to allow the governor to choose whether to consult medical groups when appointing members to the Board of Medical Examiners, rather than requiring this consultation. Currently, state law (TCA Section 63-6-102(a)(4)) mandates that the governor "shall consult" with medical organizations; this bill would amend that to "may consult." The change applies specifically to appointments for the Board of Medical Examiners under Tennessee Code Annotated. This bill does not alter the board's duties, membership qualifications, or the appointment process beyond the consultation requirement.

HB 994 changes the deadline for Tennessee regions to submit annual solid waste reports from March 31 to February 1 each year. The bill requires regions to provide data on collection, recycling, transportation, disposal, public costs, and other relevant solid waste management information to the Environment Commissioner. This applies directly to all Tennessee regions responsible for waste planning and management under state environmental laws. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and does not alter the reporting requirements themselves.

HB 1028 amends Tennessee law to remove outdated transitional language regarding physician assistant board members who were transferred from a previous committee to the new board in 2021. Specifically, it deletes provisions about their appointment terms (with the longest term expiring in 2024) and eliminates a restriction limiting these members to two consecutive four-year terms on the new board, including prior service on the old committee. This change updates the legal code to reflect the current board structure without altering substantive governance rules. The bill affects current and future members of the Tennessee Board of Physician Assistants who were appointed under the 2021 transition. It is a procedural adjustment with no new policy or funding impacts.

HB 1079 removes an outdated requirement for Tennessee's insurance commissioner to study whether state insurance laws hinder companies from covering individuals who used justified force (including deadly force) in self-defense or property protection. The bill deletes Section 56-1-108 of Tennessee Code, which previously mandated this study and a report to the legislature by March 1, 2012. This change eliminates a procedural obligation that was no longer needed, with no impact on actual insurance underwriting rules or policyholder coverage. The bill directly affects the Department of Commerce and Insurance by removing a specific reporting duty.

HB 1063 amends Tennessee wildlife reporting rules by extending the annual deadline for the wildlife resources agency to submit a report to legislative committees. The report must detail acreage closed to hunting/fishing (and reasons), acreage opened to compensate for closures, and new public lands added. The deadline shifts from January 1 to January 15 each year. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects the wildlife agency and relevant legislative committees.

HB 1062 extends the deadline for Tennessee's Department of Environment and Conservation (DEC) to publish notices of intent to appeal water quality decisions. Specifically, it changes the requirement from posting within three business days to five business days after receiving an appeal notice from the Board of Water Quality, Oil and Gas, or an administrative judge. This procedural change directly affects the DEC's administrative process for handling water-related appeals. The bill does not alter water quality standards or create new regulations, only adjusting the timeline for public notice of pending appeals. It applies to decisions under Tennessee Code Annotated Titles 4, 11, 66, 67, 68, and 69 related to water management.

HB 1080 extends the deadline for Tennessee insurance companies to remove an officer or director following a regulatory order from 30 to 35 days. This change directly affects insurance companies and their officers or directors who face action from the insurance commissioner. The bill amends Tennessee Code Sections 56-2-103(b) and related titles to implement this 5-day extension. The provision is a straightforward procedural adjustment with no other policy changes described in the bill text.